Transitional Health Care Programs (TAMP)

Military.com

There are several Health Care programs available to assist veterans and retirees as they transition into the civilian workforce. These programs are designed to meet specific needs based on your duty status and transition circumstances. Some of these programs are long term, while others are temporary in nature and only provide coverage for up to 3 years.

In addition these coverage plans often require you to pay a premium, cost shares, deductibles and co-pays.

TRICARE - Transition Assistance Management Program

The Transitional Assistance Management Program offers transitional TRICARE coverage to certain separating active duty members and their eligible family members. Care is available for only 180 days.

The four categories for TAMP eligibility are:

Members involuntarily separated from active duty and their eligible family members;

National Guard and Reserve members, collectively known as the Reserve Component (RC), separated from active duty after being called up or ordered in support of a contingency operation for an active duty period of more than 30 days and their family members;

Members separated from active duty after being involuntarily retained in support of a contingency operation and their family members; and

Members separated from active duty following a voluntary agreement to stay on active duty for less than one year in support of a contingency mission and their family members.

Continued Health Care Benefit Program (CHCBP)

After the TAMP eligibility expires, you or a family member may apply for temporary, transitional medical coverage under the Continued Health Care Benefit Program. CHCBP is a premium-based health care program providing medical coverage to a select group of former military beneficiaries. CHCBP is similar to, but not part of, TRICARE. The CHCBP program extends health care coverage to the following individuals when they lose military benefits:

The service member (who can also enroll his or her family members)

Certain former spouses who have not remarried

Certain children who lose military coverage

DoD contracted with Humana Military Healthcare Services, Inc. to administer CHCBP. You may contact Humana Military Healthcare Services, Inc., in writing or by phone for information regarding CHCBP. This includes your eligibility for enrolling in the program, to request a copy of the CHCBP enrollment application, to obtain information regarding the health care benefits that are available to CHCBP enrollees, and to obtain information regarding the premiums and out-of-pocket costs once you are enrolled.

CHCBP Basics

Continuous coverage: CHCBP is a health care program intended to provide you with continuous health care coverage on a temporary basis following your loss of military benefits. It acts as a “bridge” between your military health benefits and your new job’s medical benefits, so you and your family will receive continuous medical coverage.

Preexisting condition coverage: If you purchase this conversion health care plan, CHCBP may entitle you to coverage for preexisting conditions often not covered by a new employer’s benefit plan.

Benefits: The CHCBP benefits are comparable to the TRICARE Standard benefits.

Enrollment and Coverage

Eligible beneficiaries must enroll in CHCBP within 60 days following the loss of entitlement to the Military Health System. To enroll, you will be required to submit: the following documentation:

Documentation as requested on the enrollment form, e.g., DD Form 214, "Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty;” final divorce decree; DD Form 1173, "Uniformed Services Identification and Privilege Card." Additional information and documentation may be required to confirm an applicant's eligibility for CHCBP.

A premium payment for the first 90-days of health coverage.

The premium rates are approximately $1,300 per quarter for individuals and $2,925 per quarter for families. Humana Military Healthcare Services, Inc. will bill you for subsequent quarterly premiums through your period of eligibility once you are enrolled.
The program uses existing TRICARE providers and follows most of the rules and procedures of the TRICARE Standard program.
Depending on your beneficiary category, CHCBP coverage is limited to either 18 or 36 months as follows:

18 months for separating Service Members and their families

36 months for others who are eligible (in some cases, former spouses who have not remarried may continue coverage beyond 36 months if they meet certain criteria)

TRICARE for Retirees

All retired military servicemembers are eligible for TRICARE health care coverage. This includes eligible spouse and dependents. When you retire from active duty, you and your eligible family members will experience the TRICARE benefit in a different way. Here are some things to keep in mind:

Remember that a change in status-from active duty to retired-requires updating your personal information in DEERS.

As a retiree under 65, you must decide which TRICARE program is best for him/her and eligible family members. Your choices include TRICARE Prime, Standard or Extra.

If you are under age 65 and become entitled to Medicare Part A because of a disability or End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) and are enrolled in Medicare Part B receive health care under Medicare and TRICARE for Life (TFL).

TRICARE Dental Coverage for Guard and Reserve

National Guard and Reserve members separating from active duty after an activation of greater than 30 days in support of a contingency operation may now receive the same dental care benefits as active duty service members. The TRICARE Active Duty Dental Program (ADDP) now provides coverage to these members in the Transition Assistance Management Program (TAMP).

ADDP beneficiaries receive active duty dental benefit services as long as the referral and/or authorization requirements are met prior to receipt of care. Authorizations will not be granted for any dental care procedure that cannot be completed within their 180-day maximum TAMP period.

Eligibility is verified by ADDP contractor United Concordia Companies, Inc. using the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System (DEERS). All TRICARE beneficiaries are advised to keep their enrollment information updated in DEERS; if eligibility cannot be confirmed, ADDP dental care will be denied.

TAMP provides 180 days of transitional health care benefits to help certain uniformed services members and their families transition to civilian life. Benefits begin the day after the service member is separated from active duty. Family members and dependents are not eligible for ADDP benefits under TAMP, but remain eligible to purchase coverage through the TRICARE Dental Program (TDP). Service members receiving benefits under TAMP are ineligible for the TDP until the end of the 180-day transitional benefit period.

CHAMPVA

CHAMPVA (the Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs) is a federal health benefits program administered by the Department of Veterans Affairs. CHAMPVA is a Fee for Service program. CHAMPVA provides reimbursement for most medical expenses -- inpatient, outpatient, mental health, prescription medication, skilled nursing care, and durable medical equipment. There is a very limited adjunct dental benefit that requires pre-authorization.

CHAMPVA Eligibility

To be eligible for CHAMPVA, you cannot be eligible for TRICARE and you must be in one of these categories:

The spouse or child of a veteran who has been rated permanently and totally disabled for a service-connected disability by a VA regional office, or

The surviving spouse or child of a veteran who died from a VA-rated service connected disability, or

The surviving spouse or child of a veteran who was at the time death rated permanently and totally disabled from a service connected disability, or

The surviving spouse or child of a servicemember who died in the line of duty.

An eligible CHAMPVA sponsor may be entitled to receive medical care through the VA health care system based on his or her own veteran status. Additionally, as the result of a recent policy change, if the eligible CHAMPVA sponsor is the spouse of another eligible CHAMPVA sponsor, both may now be eligible for CHAMPVA benefits. In each instance where the eligible spouse requires medical attention, he or she may choose the VA health care system or coverage under CHAMPVA for his/her health care needs. If you have been previously denied CHAMPVA benefits and you believe you would now be qualified, please submit an application following the guidelines as listed on the "How to apply" section.

Check out the CHAMPVA Fact sheet to learn more about this transitional health care program.

Veterans Health Care

VA provides a Medical Benefits Package, a standard enhanced health benefits plan available to all enrolled veterans. This plan emphasizes preventive and primary care, and offers a full range of outpatient and inpatient services within VA health care system.

VA maintains an annual enrollment system to manage the provision of quality hospital and outpatient medical care and treatment to all enrolled veterans. A priority system ensures that veterans with service-connected disabilities and those below the low-income threshold are able to be enrolled in VA's health care system.

VA enrollment allows health care benefits to become portable throughout the entire VA system. Enrolled veterans who are traveling or who spend time away from their primary treatment facility may obtain care at any VA health care facility across the country without the worry of having to reapply.

VA Health Care Eligibility

Eligibility for most veterans' health care benefits is based solely on active military service in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, or Coast Guard (or Merchant Marines during WW II), and discharged under other than dishonorable conditions.

Note: If you are a veteran enrolling for the first time and your income exceeds the current year income threshold, you are not eligible for enrollment at this time. Visit the VA Health Care Eligibility and Priority page to learn more.

Reservists and National Guard members who were called to active duty by a Federal Executive Order may qualify for VA health care benefits. Returning service members, including Reservists and National Guard members who served on active duty in a theater of combat operations have special eligibility for hospital care, medical services, and nursing home care for two years following discharge from active duty.

Important facts about VA Health Care eligibility:

Health care eligibility is not just for those who served in combat.

Veteran's health care is not just for service-connected injuries or medical conditions.

Veteran's health care facilities are not just for men only. VA offers full-service health care to women veterans.